The Health and Medical Education (H&ME) Department of Jammu and Kashmir has given the green light for the construction of a new, advanced surgical theatre block at Government SMHS Hospital in Srinagar. The approval includes a budget of Rs 50.24 crore (Rs 5024.74 lakhs) for the project, which will be carried out according to the specified components outlined in the Detailed Project Report (DPR). This approval has been a long-awaited decision, as the request had been pending for two years. The new theatre block is expected to greatly improve the hospital’s ability to provide better patient care. However, there are certain conditions attached to the approval. The construction must be carried out according to the plans and details provided in the DPR, which must be validated by the Development Commissioner (Works). All financial rules and procedures must be followed strictly. Additionally, the designs must adhere to the latest codes and specifications for construction, and the project must be resilient against natural disasters like floods and earthquakes. The project will involve various components, including demolition work for the old Drug Store and Office Canteen Block, which will be carried out according to a detailed estimate before proceeding. The project will be tendered electronically, and the project cannot be divided into smaller parts during the tendering process. The timeline for completion must be strictly adhered to, with no delays or cost increases allowed. All necessary approvals from regulatory authorities, along with soil testing for load-bearing capacity, must be completed before work begins. The approved design includes elements from Phase-1 of the project, which was previously approved in 2021. The new theatre block aims to provide cutting-edge surgical facilities that will greatly benefit patients in the region. Prof. (Dr.) Iqbal Saleem, the Head of the Department of Minimal Access and General Surgery at GMC Srinagar, expressed his pride in the approval. He thanked the Secretary of the H&ME Department, Dr. Syed Abid Rasheed Shah, and the Principal of GMC Srinagar, Prof. (Dr.) Iffat Hassan Shah, for their efforts in securing the approval. He also acknowledged the contributions of Prof. Shoukat Jeelani and Prof. Mufti Mahmood in supporting the project. Dr. Saleem expressed confidence that the new theatre block would greatly benefit patients across the Union Territory.
